Lock for door keys



Mar. 27, l923- 1,450,075

H. GREENFIELD LOCK FOR DOOR KEYS Filed May 5, 1921 Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOCK FOR DOOR KEYS.

Application filed May 3,

T0 aZZ 2071 om it may concern Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM I-I. GREEN- rlnLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county ofLancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locks for Door Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locking devices for door keys and has for its object the provision of a device adapted for insertion within a key hole and engageable with the ring or handle portion of a key whereby to prevent the key from being pushed out of the key-hole from the opposite side of a door and also to prevent turning of the key from the opposite side of the door as by means of forceps or other similar tools used by burglars.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which is formed as an elongated bar adapted for insertion within a key-hole and having formed at one end oppositely extending curved prongs either of which may be engaged upon a key ring or handle, the provision of the two prongs rendering the device applicable for use in connection with a key which turns either to the right or to the left in unlocking.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to apply, highly eflicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device engaged with a key.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lock mechanism showing my device inserted therein, and

Figure 3 is a perspective'view of my device alone.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a portion of the door, B designates a portion of the lock mechanism thereon, C designates the keyhole, and D designates the key having a loop 1921. Serial No. 466,480.

or ring handle E. In carrying out my invention I provide a key locking device comprising an elongated bar 10 formed of metal such as steel and preferably having one end somewhat enlarged, as shown at 11, to define a head having a hole 12 by means of which the device may be hung upon a nail or the like. Formed integrally upon this enlarged end of the bar are slightly spaced tongues 13 which are bent in opposite directions, as clearly shown, to define arcuate hooks or prongs either of which is adapted for engagement with the key handle E.

In the use of the device, after the key is inserted into the key-hole and turned to shoot the bolt of the lock mechanism, the bar 10 is inserted within the keyhole and either one of the prongs 13 is engaged with the handle of the key. It makes no difference whether the key be long or short as the device will operate the same regardless. When my device is in position it will be seen that it is impossible to move the key bit into registration with the key-hole and as a result it will be impossible for a burglar to either push the key out of the lock or to turn the key by means of forceps or the like. In this way my device functions as a very efficient safety device for frustrating an attempted entry by an unauthorized person.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A key locking device comprising an elongated bar adapted for insertion within a key hole subsequent to turning of the key to lock the bolt, the outer end of said bar being enlarged and being formed at one side with a pair of tongues formed integrally thereon and curved upon themselves in opposite directions to define a pair of hooks, either of said hooks being engageable within the open handle portion of a key.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM. H. GREENFIELD. 

